Hi Everyone!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read, learn, and support my family in our fight against CJD.  This battle is one that I feel very passionately about.  As many of you know, I lost my Mom to CJD in January of 2020.  Her rapid decline was something I don't think I would've believed had I not seen it myself.  There was no time for good-byes, no time for apologies, no time to say "I Love you" and know she understood it.  As strong as my Mom was (and if you knew her, she was a tiny but mighty woman!) I could tell she was scared.  We all were.  CJD affects the "good proteins" in your brain.  The proteins misfold for an unknown reason causing the "good proteins'' to work against each other.  By the end of this horrible disease the persons brain resembles "swiss cheese".  There's literally holes in their brain.  As a result my Mom would have rapid mood swings, bursts of anger, sadness, silliness (unfortunately those moments were few and far between).  Her decline was so rapid, each day I was frightened to see what ability was taken from her.  In the end, Mom was blind, deaf, she couldn't walk or talk or even swallow.  I just remember fighting back the tears daily and approaching her with all the love and kindness I had in me.  I would sing "You Are My Sunshine" to her while I pushed her in her wheelchair.  My Mom couldn't be Mom anymore, she couldn't be "Babe '' as her close friends referred to her, and she couldn't be her most valued title in the world, she couldn't be GRANDMA.  We had no one to turn to, no one to help understand or process this disease other than the CJD Foundation.  They quickly educated me with the gentlest of hands and made me realize I needed to be Mom.  All I wanted was for her to feel safe, not alone, and most of all LOVED.  I can honestly say without the support of the CJD Foundation, I really don't know how my family would've made it through.  I miss my Mom every second of every day.  Why should you donate to our team?  Because without funds to research this monster, we may never find a cure.  Because one day you or someone you love may be faced with this horrific disease.  I would love nothing more than to be able to one day say "We Did It Mom! - We helped find a cure and NO ONE needs to suffer like you did!"

Love to All

To donate to our team, text STRIDES2023 to 50155. 

Donations of $250 and above are considered sponsorships.

Sponsorship Levels:

• Premier: $20,000
• Diamond: $10,000
• Platinum: $5,000
• Gold: $1,000
• Silver: $500
• Bronze: $250

Premier, Diamond, and Platinum Sponsors will have their name or logo displayed on participant t-shirts, the Strides for CJD website, and signage. Gold Sponsors will have their name or logo displayed on the Strides for CJD website, and will have their name (not their logo) listed on participant T-shirts and signage. Silver and Bronze Sponsors will have their name listed on the Strides for CJD website only.

Strides for CJD is an annual walk/run to raise awareness of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), a rare neurodegenerative disease that has no treatment or cure. Through this event, anyone -- anywhere -- can pay tribute to their loved ones and raise funds for the CJD Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization.

Funds raised support our programs including:

• Our 24/7 helpline, support groups, conference, and other family programs throughout the year.
• Research grants to help scientists make important discoveries and bring us closer to a cure.
• Medical education to help raise awareness and understanding of prion disease.